iBar-Menubar vs Thaw

iBar-Menubar helps Mac users reduce menu bar clutter by hiding icons and bringing them back when needed. Its standard mode folds hidden items, while aggregation mode displays them in a panel below the menu bar. The maker says this panel can help reveal icons obscured by a MacBook notch. In aggregation mode, users can temporarily place a hidden icon in the menu bar to use its app menu, then hide it again after an optional delay. The app also lets users adjust icon spacing and reorder icons in its menu bar layout settings. It supports Apple M-series and Intel Macs. The App Store listing requires macOS 10.12 or later and describes the app as Mac only. A free download is available with in-app purchases; the listed annual subscription costs 18 CNY a year. The developer reports that the app collects no data, though Apple says this developer-provided privacy information has not been verified by Apple.

Thaw is a free, open-source macOS utility for hiding, revealing, and arranging menu bar items. Users can save arrangements as profiles linked to a display, Space, or Focus filter. Conditions such as battery level, Wi-Fi network, active Focus, or a script result can trigger items to appear or disappear. Appearance options include tint, gradients, shadows, borders, custom shapes, and light and dark mode settings.

Thaw requires macOS 26 or later and supports macOS 26 and 27. It includes a Raycast extension and thaw:// deep links for tools such as Alfred, Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, and BetterTouchTool. The project says the app requires no account and has no tracking, analytics, or telemetry. Accessibility permission is requested on first launch; Screen Recording is optional for live previews and wallpaper-derived tinting. It is licensed under GPL-3.0 and can be installed with Homebrew or as a DMG from the latest GitHub release. Only the latest stable release receives security fixes.